Election off to a ‘quiet’ start

THE field of candidates for next month’s Mildura Rural City Council local government election will soon be revealed, with nominations opening today.

Candidates will have until the close of nominations next Tuesday to declare their intentions to stand.

The election will be conducted by postal voting.

Ratepayers will vote in a minimum of two new councillors after Crs Nick Cavallo and Fiona

Hilton-Wood confirmed they would not seek re-election.

In what could best be described as a lacklustre lead-up to the nomination period, only two new candidates have so far emerged outside the existing seven councillors who have said they would seek re-election.

They are former long-serving council employee Jill Joslyn and Irymple-based semi-retired casual teacher Bernard Denner.

It is understood Underbool farmer and former councillor Greg Brown is also considering making a run for council.

Ms Joslyn, who has been vocal in recent months as the chair of pro-public hospital lobby group Reclaim the Base, was yesterday predicting a rush of nominations in the next few days.

“I reckon people will come out of the woodwork like crazy,” she said.

“Like everyone, I want to see an election with as many candidates as possible contesting, not people being automatically elected.”

Fronting up for his fourth council election, Mayor John Arnold said the lead-up to the opening of nominations had been “unusually quiet”.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday's Sunraysia Daily 20/09/2012.